TOEIC Reading Part 5 (Incomplete Sentences): how to choose the right word form, tense, pronoun and collocation

In TOEIC Reading Part 5 (Incomplete Sentences), each sentence has one blank and four options, and every question tests grammar or vocabulary. For word forms, the words around the blank decide: a noun after a or the, an adjective after be, an adverb for how an action is done. For tense, pronoun and vocabulary questions, read the whole sentence: the clue may be a word such as already or since. This guide is for candidates at intermediate (B1) level and above.

Who this is for

TOEIC candidates who know the grammar rules but still lose easy points in Part 5 under time pressure.
Learners who mix up forms such as describe, description and descriptive, or efficient and efficiently.
Working adults who want their own emails and notes to be as accurate as their test answers.
Too early: if the past simple and basic word order still feel uncertain (around A2), build everyday grammar first; Part 5 practice pays off from about B1.
Too easy: if single sentences are already steady and your mistakes come from linking ideas across sentences, go on to Part 6 text completion.

Open the sample pages

Word cards

Personal · your first days

Think about your first day in a job, a course or a club. How were you trained, and what do you remember?

Useful: ‘On my first day, I…’ · ‘By the end of the week, I had…’ · ‘What I remember most clearly is…’

Work and society · compulsory training

Which workplace training should be compulsory, and which should be optional?

Useful: ‘… should definitely be compulsory, because…’ · ‘It makes sense to make … optional.’ · ‘I’m not sure that…’

Example exchange

In the sentence “The trainer explained the rule clearly”, why is “clearly” used?

Clearly is an adverb describing how the trainer explained the rule.

Clear is an adjective and clarity is a noun. The verb phrase needs a word describing the manner of explaining here.

Language pattern

1
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
“By lunchtime I ______ almost everything,” she remembers.
Show answer and explanation
had forgotten
The forgetting happened before a past point (lunchtime), so we use the past perfect: had + past participle (forgotten).
2
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
“The only thing I could recall ______ was where the coffee was.”
Show answer and explanation
clearly
An adverb (clearly) describes how she could recall. Clear is an adjective and clarity is a noun.
3
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
When Farah was made responsible ______ the program, she decided to find out what new staff actually needed.
Show answer and explanation
for
The fixed combination is responsible for + noun or -ing: responsible for the program.
4
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
One receptionist had confirmed guest bookings for three months before anyone noticed that she ______ a required payment check.
Show answer and explanation
had skipped
She skipped the check before anyone noticed, so the earlier past action uses had + past participle.
5
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
Attendance at the first safety session is ______; the others can be moved to fit the work schedule.
Show answer and explanation
compulsory
After be, an adjective describes the requirement: compulsory means required.
6
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
The hotels have used the new system ______ last April, and the early results are encouraging.
Show answer and explanation
since
Since + a starting point (last April) goes with the present perfect. For needs a period, and ago goes after a period.
7
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
She is currently ______ a decision about whether to shorten the program for roles with fewer procedures, and she has asked the company to recognize the trainers’ contribution in their annual reviews.
Show answer and explanation
making
The natural combination is make a decision; we do not say do a decision or give a decision.

More practice

Let the sentence frame help

In the sentence “The trainer explained the rule clearly”, why is “clearly” used?

Clearly is an adverb describing how the trainer explained the rule.

Clear is an adjective and clarity is a noun. The verb phrase needs a word describing the manner of explaining here.

Choose the word that fits

1
Please send us a brief ____ of the delivery problem.
Show answer and explanation
description
After a brief, the sentence needs a noun. Description names the account of the problem; describe is a verb, descriptive an adjective and described a past form.
2
The volunteers worked ____ to finish the display before noon.
Show answer and explanation
efficiently
The adverb efficiently describes how the volunteers worked. The noun and adjective forms cannot describe the verb worked.
3
The ground-floor studio is ____ for wheelchair users.
Show answer and explanation
suitable
After is, an adjective describes the studio. Suitable means right for that purpose; the adverb, noun and verb forms do not fit this frame.

Write a clear training note

Choose your workshop

Bicycle maintenance, photo scanning, or community cooking.
Choose one explanation or instruction participants need.
Choose how an action should be performed and one genuine requirement.

Writing task

Write in your own notes.
Use a noun for the information, an adverb for manner, and an adjective for the requirement.
Explain the sentence clue for one choice; alternatives are welcome if grammar and meaning fit.

Follow time and participants

In the first model, why is “had checked” used?

The check was complete before the visitors arrived.

Both actions are in the past; the earlier completed action uses the past perfect to make their order clear.

Strategy

A completed action before another past action can use had + past participle.
Since plus a starting point links an ongoing situation to when it began.
Choose the pronoun form for its role: subject, object or possession.
Make the person or group referred to clear.

Time models

Before the visitors arrived, the team had checked the emergency exit.
The centre has offered evening workshops since April.

Reference model

The trainer welcomed the assistants and asked them to prepare the tables.
Them is the object of asked and refers to the assistants.

Keep the timeline and reference clear

1
When the manager called the supplier, the parcel ____ already left the warehouse.
Show answer and explanation
had
The parcel left before the past phone call, so the earlier completed action uses the past perfect: had already left.
2
The interns forgot ____ badges, so reception printed new ones.
Show answer and explanation
their
Their is the possessive form before a noun (their badges). Them is an object, they a subject, and theirs stands alone without a noun.
3
The café has been closed on Mondays ____ the new manager arrived.
Show answer and explanation
since
Since introduces the starting point (when the new manager arrived) of a situation that continues now. For needs a length of time, during needs a noun, and until gives an end point that does not fit the present perfect here.

Explain a project timeline

Project choices

An exhibition, a staff induction, or a weekend course.
Choose two completed past actions and decide which happened first.
Choose an activity that began in a month you select and still continues.
Choose two people or groups with clear responsibilities.

Your update

Write three or four connected sentences in your own notes.
Use had + past participle where it clarifies the earlier action.
Use since with the starting point and a pronoun whose reference is clear.

Learn useful combinations in context

Why is “confirm the booking” useful after receiving payment?

It tells the customer that the reservation is agreed and in place.

Confirm fits the intended communication action; a similar-looking verb is not enough.

Strategy

Some words commonly work together: make a decision, confirm a booking.
Check the relationship after an adjective: responsible for a task.
Use the whole situation to distinguish similar-looking verbs.
A natural combination must also express the intended action.

Complete contextual models

We must make a decision before we order the tables.
The host is responsible for checking the room.
Please confirm the booking after you receive the payment.

Meanings

Make a decision: choose what to do.
Responsible for: having the duty to do a task.
Confirm a booking: state that the reservation is agreed and in place.

Choose a natural combination

1
We must ____ the deadline for the grant application.
Show answer and explanation
meet
Meet a deadline is the natural combination for finishing something in time.
2
All visitors must comply ____ the safety rules in the workshop.
Show answer and explanation
with
Comply with introduces the rules that must be followed.
3
Please ____ an order for twenty folding chairs before Friday.
Show answer and explanation
place
Place an order means ask a supplier to provide goods. The other verbs do not combine with order in this meaning.

Agree duties and confirm a plan

Choose your event

A workshop, guest talk, or equipment demonstration.
Make one decision about the venue or date.
Assign a preparation task to each person.
Decide what must happen before the booking is confirmed.

Confirmation message

Write three or four sentences of your own.
Use make a decision, responsible for, and confirm in relevant contexts.
Check that the message clearly explains the agreed plan.

Word forms, time and collocations in the report

1
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
“By lunchtime I ______ almost everything,” she remembers.
Show answer and explanation
had forgotten
The forgetting happened before a past point (lunchtime), so we use the past perfect: had + past participle (forgotten).
2
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
“The only thing I could recall ______ was where the coffee was.”
Show answer and explanation
clearly
An adverb (clearly) describes how she could recall. Clear is an adjective and clarity is a noun.
3
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
When Farah was made responsible ______ the program, she decided to find out what new staff actually needed.
Show answer and explanation
for
The fixed combination is responsible for + noun or -ing: responsible for the program.
4
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
One receptionist had confirmed guest bookings for three months before anyone noticed that she ______ a required payment check.
Show answer and explanation
had skipped
She skipped the check before anyone noticed, so the earlier past action uses had + past participle.
5
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
Attendance at the first safety session is ______; the others can be moved to fit the work schedule.
Show answer and explanation
compulsory
After be, an adjective describes the requirement: compulsory means required.
6
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
The hotels have used the new system ______ last April, and the early results are encouraging.
Show answer and explanation
since
Since + a starting point (last April) goes with the present perfect. For needs a period, and ago goes after a period.
7
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
She is currently ______ a decision about whether to shorten the program for roles with fewer procedures, and she has asked the company to recognize the trainers’ contribution in their annual reviews.
Show answer and explanation
making
The natural combination is make a decision; we do not say do a decision or give a decision.

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How Part 5 works

Part 5 has 30 workplace sentences, each with one blank and four options, and no clock of its own: the 75-minute Reading section covers Parts 5, 6 and 7, and Part 7 needs the most time. Read the options first; they show the question type:

Four forms of one word (describe, description, descriptive, described): word form.
Tenses of one verb, or since, for and ago: time.
Different pronouns (they, them, their, theirs): reference.
Four different words of one class (do, run, meet, hold): vocabulary.

Word forms: let the sentence frame decide

Decide which word class the gap needs, then check the meaning. Endings help: -tion and -ment often mark nouns, -ive and -able adjectives, -ly adverbs; but friendly and timely are adjectives. Four frames cover most questions:

After a, the or our (plus any adjective), a noun: “Please send us a brief description of the delivery problem.”
Before a noun, an adjective: “The trainer gave a clear explanation.”
After be, seem or become, usually an adjective: “The ground-floor studio is suitable for wheelchair users.”
For how an action is done, an adverb: “The volunteers worked efficiently to finish the display before noon.”

Time: past perfect, since, for and ago

With two past actions, had + past participle marks the earlier, completed one, and already or by + a past point make it the safe choice: “When the manager called the supplier, the parcel had already left the warehouse.” After before or after, the simple past also works.

For a situation that started in the past and continues now, use the present perfect: since + a starting point, for + a length of time; ago goes with the simple past. If your language uses the present tense here, watch for “I work here since April”.

“The centre has offered evening workshops since April.”
“The hotels have used the new system for six months.”
“The new system started six months ago.”

Pronouns: role and reference

Choose the form for its job and check that it points to one clear person or group:

Object: “The trainer welcomed the assistants and asked them to prepare the tables.”
Before a noun: “The interns forgot their badges, so reception printed new ones.”
Without a noun: “The blue folders are ours; the red ones are theirs.”

Collocations: the word that does the intended job

In vocabulary questions the options share a word class, so grammar cannot decide. Choose the word that naturally combines with its partner and means the intended action: once payment arrives, you confirm the booking, telling the customer the reservation is agreed.

make a decision (not do): “We must make a decision before we order the tables.”
meet a deadline; place an order: “Please place an order for twenty folding chairs before Friday.”
comply with; responsible for + noun or -ing: “The host is responsible for checking the room.”
attend a meeting (no to); discuss a plan (no about).

Learn this unit your way

Use the patterns in writing and speaking

The same choices keep your messages clear, including TOEIC Writing emails. Write a confirmation like this for your own event, then check each noun, time word and pronoun.

Then answer aloud for a minute: which workplace training should be compulsory, and which optional? Useful starts: “… should definitely be compulsory, because…”, “It makes sense to make … optional.”

“We have made a decision about the venue. Priya is responsible for booking the room, and I will confirm the booking once the deposit has been paid.”

Common mistakes in Part 5

Five habits cost easy points:

Reading only up to the blank; the clue often comes after it.
An adjective where an adverb is needed: “worked efficient”.
Since with a length of time (“since three months”) or the present perfect with a finished time (“has left yesterday”).
Writing responsible of, comply to or discuss about.
Choosing their, them or theirs by sound, not by role.

A 20-minute Part 5 routine

Short daily practice beats one long session:

8 minutes: 15 Part 5 questions, timed, with no dictionary.
5 minutes: label each mistake as word form, time, pronoun or vocabulary.
5 minutes: copy each corrected sentence into an error log and write a new one with the same pattern.
2 minutes: reread yesterday’s log aloud; every few days, redo old mistakes.

Next step

When single sentences feel steady, move on to Part 6, where the clue can sit in a nearby sentence, then to Part 7. Keep the error log: the same habits return in every part.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are in TOEIC Reading Part 5?

Thirty, each one sentence with a blank and four options. Part 5 shares the 75-minute Reading time with Parts 6 and 7.

Should I read the whole sentence in TOEIC Part 5?

Yes, before you mark an answer. The words around the blank often decide word-form questions, but for tense, pronoun and vocabulary the clue can be anywhere.

What is the difference between since and for?

Since takes a starting point (since April), for a length of time (for three months). With a situation that continues now, both take the present perfect.

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